The single most important truth about bad breath is that it’s universal. You will come across plenty of products in the market to help you keep bad breath in control, but the answer to your problem is far simpler than some gimicky product.
The most effective way, arguably, of controlling bad breath is brushing, flossing and rinsing your mouth out regularly. The point is bad breath is caused by certain bacteria that produce anaerobic sulfur. These bacteria are usually located within the surface of the tongue and in the throat. These bacteria assist in the process of digestion by breaking down proteins.
The rate at which the bacteria break down the proteins is very high. Proteins are usually made of amino acids and two of them, namely cysteine and methionine, contain sulfur. As and when the bacteria increase the rate of breakdown of proteins, the rate of sulfur production also rises. This is the main reason for bad breath. And guess what, the longer this process goes on, the worse your breath will keep getting. Also keep in mind, your breath will smell bad when you consume foods like onion and garlic.
Besides food consumption, dental problems, dry mouth, different diseases and intake of tobacco in any form also cause bad breath. But never fear. The problem of bad breath can be easily countered. One way is to consult your dentist and find out if the cause of bad breath is medical. Apart from that, here are some tips you can try out, on your own.
1. Brush your teeth after every meal.
Wherever you go, carry a toothbrush with you so that you can brush your teeth after you eat. It may be at work or at your friend’s place. Besides that, floss your teeth once every day to remove the food particles stuck in between your teeth.
2. Keep your tongue clean by brushing it. When you brush your tongue, dead cells, food particles and bacteria which may have settled down will be cleaned. Make sure that the brush you use is soft and does not hurt your tongue in anyway.
3. Have plenty of water.
As mentioned above, dry mouth is one of the reasons for bad breath. Keep your mouth moist by drinking lots of water. The other alternative is to chew gum. This stimulates the process of salivation, and clears bacteria and food particles.
4. Change your toothbrush once every four months.
Do not use a toothbrush beyond four months. A new toothbrush makes cleaning more effective. Also use a toothbrush which has soft bristles so that your teeth and gums do not get bruised.
Nothing can guarantee you complete freedom from bad breath. But if you try the techniques mentioned above, you may be able to keep it under wraps to fairly large extent.